Seahuggers

Stoked!

2010-01-05T12:45:00.001-08:00

Report: Most College Males Admit To Regularly Getting Stoked

eightOHfive!

2009-07-15T19:39:00.000-07:00

The 805 posse feelin' right at home in the long walls of Jeffrey's Bay

Dane: Highest two wave score 19.20, & 3rd overall.

Tommy: Beat Occy in their Round 1 Clash of the Icons.

Bobby: Easily the best goofy-footer on the tour got taken out by event winner Joel Parkinson in the quarters for a 5th place finish.

Nathaniel: Finding his footing and fairing well with a 9th.

Tall Tails

2009-07-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

Or, perhaps that should be long tails.

Summer has finally arrived on the Central Coast of California and with warmer water, south swells, and bait balls. Bait balls, or large schools of bait fish, are easily observed just offshore. Though you can't generally see the fish themselves, what you can see is often just as impressive. Large flocks of seagulls, dive-bombing pelicans, a froth of seals and sea lions, and evidently thresher sharks as well.

Thresher Shark, photo: www.atlanticanglers.com

About a month or so ago, I paddled out with a friend on a classic summer evening; warm water, sunny skies, kine little chest high peelers coming through on the inside bar. After about 30 minutes or so, we watched in awe as a 6' thresher shark started to destroy some unlucky thing, thrashing wildly only 50' from where we sat!

The water cleared, and my friend and I eventually went in as well, not from fear of the thresher so much as fear of what might come sniffing around all the blood and noise.

Later, over an oil can of Fosters on the bluff above the break, I assured my friend that these shark feed on bait fish and that it would be highly unlikely that they would ever bite a surfer (as we watched it cruise right through the line-up).

Then a few days later the local paper reports that a surfer at this break was treated for puncture wounds from what was suspected to be a small shark.

I don't really have an end to this story but I thought it was worth sharing all the same. Any of you out there in the blog-o-sphere have any fish stories to share?

Until next time, keep your feet up.

Aloha.

Sacred Craft

2009-05-07T09:39:00.000-07:00

The Sacred Craft surfboard expo is coming to Ventura, stoked to finally check this out. More details here.

2009-04-23T20:09:00.000-07:00

Local boys Eric Soderquist (shredda) and Chris Burkard (ace photog) will be rolling out their slick new book The California Surf Project tomorrow night at Moondoggies and then again at SLO Surfrider's Stokefest on Saturday. Come out and show some aloha.

2009-04-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

"The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster it's renewal is our only hope." -Wendell Berry

Earth Day Philoso-T. Photo: Daniel

Blue/Green

2009-04-18T15:55:00.001-07:00

Ben Keller is bringing his award winning surf film Blue Green to La Perla del Mar in Shell Beach on Monday April 20th. Door are at 6 with live music by the Dentures. Film starts at 7:30. SLO Surfrider will be raffling off a shred sled. Sounds like a pretty good time for 8 bones.

Trifecta

2009-04-07T10:08:00.000-07:00

Clean combo swell, cold Primos, and the new Journal. Stoked!

Christmas Come Early

2009-03-24T16:44:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night Thomas Campbell's new surf film "The Present" will drop in on SLO Town's historic Fremont Theater.

Still not convinced? The very tight and stylish Mattson 2 will open.

YEW!!!

Reel'n

2009-03-17T09:13:00.000-07:00

Photo: grainsurfboards.com

Here's hope'n you find some long green walls, and that the wind that shakes the barley is offshore. Happy St. Patrick's day.

Slainte!

Under the [SLO] Sun

2009-03-10T09:32:00.000-07:00

The SLO International Film Festival has rolled into town and as in years past features some excellent celluloid sliding. This years "SLO Surf Night" features Cyrus Sutton's "Under the Sun" and "The Women & the Waves" a film by two Santa Barbara locals. Guest appearances by the legendary Nat Young his son Beau and Linda Benson. Details here.

See you there.

Wood is Good

2009-03-03T09:21:00.000-08:00

Got an extra 45 minutes to kill? Check out this great 4 part series on Tom Wegener via the good folks at Patagonia.

It Rained All Night...

2009-02-05T08:39:00.000-08:00

...and washed the filth away.

Give it a day.

Too...

2009-01-19T08:31:00.000-08:00

...west.

...low tide.

...high tide.

...crowded.

...much hype.

Building

2009-01-16T14:48:00.001-08:00

Here we go...

2009

2009-01-08T12:27:00.000-08:00

Photo via Pushing Tide

Seahugger goals for 2009: travel light, live close to the earth, laugh hard, laugh often, surf daily (even if only in our heads).

Happy Hollow Days!

2008-12-09T12:23:00.000-08:00

Much aloha to you all.

Tee Time

2008-11-11T13:10:00.001-08:00

The latest Seahugger's Tee has just arrived from the printers.
Taking our inspiration from the USDA's organic label...

...and printing it on a 100% organic cotton tee.

We like to think of those lines as a roping right point.

These tee's are natural color, regular fit (as opposed to "slim fit").

GIVEAWAY!
Here's the deal. We love stoking people out, so we're giving away one of these shirts. How do I enter you are no doubt asking yourself. Simple, click the comment link below, next type a single word which best describes what the ocean means to you. We'll randomly select a name from the comments at the end of November and post the winner. Aloha.

Not feeling lucky or gotta have it now-

Info@seahuggers.com
805.773.1855
$20

~Soon come to the website~

Seachange

2008-11-05T07:23:00.000-08:00

Going right Mr. President?

2008-11-04T08:03:00.000-08:00

Art by Shepard Fairey

Aloha de los Muertos

2008-10-31T09:13:00.000-07:00

Photo: orientaltrading.com

Gray Ave Revisited

2008-10-29T13:56:00.001-07:00

If you were to ask Marc Andreini who his shaping mentor and idol is, you will likely hear the name Reynolds Yater.
In the Mid 70's, Marc and Yater shared a shop on Gray Avenue in Santa Barbara. Of course you can't put two masters in the same building without alittle cross-pollination.

Photo: www.goletasurfing.com
Marc Andreini and Reynolds Yater talking rocker.

Knowing this, when Marc picked up a stack of BioFoam blanks from Seahuggers HQ this past July, we asked him if he could shape a Yater Spoon inspired single fin. Marc was stoked on the idea and we are stoked on the result, check it ->

9'1" BioFoam Andreini "Vaquero Spoon", light gray opaque tint, single fin.
ROOTS!

Give a call or come round if interested.
805.773.1855
info@seahuggers.com

Free Fall 2008

2008-10-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

Mark your calenders, this coming Saturday October 25th is the Free Fall art benefit and classic log contest. All proceeds benefit San Luis Bay Surfrider programs. Always a good time!
For more info click here.

Aloha.

2008-10-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

Photo: tidalstock.wordpress.com

Ah, Friday. Stuck at work but not in the mood to work? Might I suggest heading over to Facebook films, where for the next 36 hours (or so) you can watch the latest film to come out of the Woodshed, One Track Mind, absolutely free!

For you San Luis Obispo area sliders...

...don't forget that tonight is the LH Design/Seahuggers Jewelry boutique and breast cancer fundraiser event. Be there!

Then on Saturday night head on over to Cal Poly's Chumash auditorium for the premiere of "Walking on Water". The legendary Tom Curren will be playing a live music set. Doors at 6:30, show at 7.
5$ get ya in.

Enjoy!

An-green-ni

2008-10-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

This past June when Marc Andreini passed through, we put a couple of BioFoam blanks and a 101 Fin Company bamboo fin in his hands and asked him to work his magic.
Behold ->

6'6" Coke bottle green, Vaquero de las Olas.

Sanded finish for speeeeeeeeeed!

Soy based BioFoam blank, and a glass-on 101 Fin Co. bamboo fin hand foiled by Marlin Bacon. Bamboo fins are light, extremely responsive and twangy offering heaps of projection and speed, and perhaps most importantly bamboo is a renewable resource.

Interested?
Give a call or drop in.
805.773.1855
info@seahuggers.com

2008-10-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

Seahuggers is stoked to be hosting a jewelry boutique & Breast Cancer benefit, Friday October 17th. The boutique will feature one of a kind, handmade, locally produced, & social conscious accessories by LH Design. And because a portion of the sales benefit the Breast Cancer fund, you'll feel as good inside as you look outside!
Aloha.

1%

2008-10-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

Seahuggers is proud to be a member of 1% for the Planet.

Coastal Clean Up Day 2008

2008-09-19T14:01:00.001-07:00

Yikes! It has been a while since our last post. Rest assured we are still around and have been tweaking a few things here and there, as well as catching the final summertime south swells.

However, we'd be remiss if we did not throw up a post reminding everyone one that this Saturday is Coastal Cleanup Day. So throw on some gloves and fill up a bag before or after your session on Saturday.

For cleanup locales around SLO county click here, elsewhere in California check here and international can get the scoop at the Ocean Conservancy site here.

Aloha.

1,000 Word Thursday

2008-08-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

Evolve/Devolve by Shepherd Fairey

Really diggin' the symbolism of this new print from the man behind the now iconic Obama "hope" posters, Shepherd Fairey.

The choice is ours.

Roll Call

2008-08-19T08:36:00.000-07:00

RT ripping a 4'11" Simmons inspired, Kenvin/Bauguess crafted "White Pony"!
Photo via sheltersurfshop.com

It seems that more and more surf bloggers are posting on surfing or ocean related environmental issues these days, and we here at Seahuggers couldn't be more stoked about it.

So, today Seahuggers is launching a new feature called Roll Call. Roll Call posts will link to surf or ocean related environmental/educational posts created by our bloggin' friends.
The purpose of Roll Call is to promote, support, and award* those bloggers endeavoring to educate their readers to surf and oceanic environmental issues via their posts.

With that introduction, Seahuggers launches Roll Call with this post from R.T. via the Warbles blog. Please check out his important post and associated comments.

Aloha.

*Yes, that's right we said award. If we use your post we'll send you some Seahuggers shwag. So get bloggin' and by all means drop us a line if you'd like us to consider a post for Roll Call.

Bust a Move...

2008-08-04T12:58:00.000-07:00

...down to the historic Fremont theater in downtown San Luis Obispo tomorrow night for a screening of Bustin' Down the Door.

Surf legend Shaun Tomson, will be on hand to sign your worn out VHS copy of Free Ride and to generally stoke you out with his whole gentlemen ripper vibe!
See you there!

Bud Browne: 1912-2008

2008-07-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

Photo: www.surfingcal.com

This past Sunday saw the passing of pioneer surf filmmaker Bud Browne at the age of 96.
For more information on Bud's immense contribution to the world of surfing, check out his Legendary Surfers page here.
Thanks for the inspiration Bud!
Aloha.

The White Buffalo

2008-07-22T09:41:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday the White Buffalo blew the doors off of La Perla del Mar in Shell Beach. The Buff took the stage and played a couple of solo acoustic songs before bringing his band (a bassist and a drummer) to the stage where they tore through a huge set which brought the house to its feet. This was a private engagement and those fortunate enough to find themselves in attendance were blown away by the White Buffalo's raw talent. There is already talk about trying to arrange future shows, so stay tuned...
Big Mahalo to Amy and Jesse for making this happen!

Bonus Video!

Green Wetsuits?

2008-07-21T12:55:00.000-07:00

Pop quiz: Which of the above wetsuits is a greener, more earth friendly product? The suit on the left is made using conventional, petroleum based neoprene, whereas the suit on the right employs limestone based rubber, water based inks, and recycled YKK zippers.

So, which suit is a greener more earth friendly product? If you said the suit on the right, you are correct, though not by as far a margin as you might have guessed.

Yesterday the LA Times published a short piece about Patagonia's* recent eco-audit which revealed that using limestone based rubber is likely as energy and carbon intensive as using standard petrol based rubber.

So comparing the two suits above, the suit on the right (Body Glove's ECO 4/3) is a touch more earth friendly by virtue of the recycled zipper and water based inks alone.

Is that enough of a reason to purchase the suit on the right? All other things being equal...yes. Seahuggers endeavors to use consumer purchasing power to help shape industry. Money talks, and if your dollars approve of recycled zippers and water based inks, then perhaps Body Glove will begin to employ these features in all their suits, not simply the ones carrying an "ECO" designation.

Wouldn't it be great if every pair of boardies were crafted using recycled soda bottles, or if you could buy any T-shirt off the rack and know it was manufactured from pesticide free materials?
We think so.
Help us make this happen.
Support industry effort and endorse change.

Aloha

*Seahuggers is proud to say that it will be carrying Patagonia product winter 2008/09.

Food for Thought

2008-07-16T12:25:00.000-07:00

When it rains, it pours. First, W lifts the ban on offshore oil drilling and now Hugger HQ has learned that the so-called dead zone within the Gulf of Mexico may grow to a record setting 8,800 square miles, an area approx. the size of New Jersey! Seems the recent flooding in the Midwest has resulted in a larger than normal amount of agri-chemical run-off into the Gulf of Mexico which helps account for this years "dead-zone" expansion. However, the real issues here are that there is a normal level of agri-chemical run-off and frankly, that there is a "dead-zone" at all.

Photo: www.dsc.discovery.com

You may be asking yourself: What is the "dead zone" and what can I do to help reduce it?
For an answer, Seahuggers has enlisted the help of the book "50 Ways to Save the Ocean". Below is a direct excerpt from way number 12:

Farmers in the Midwest use up to 140 pounds of synthetic fertilizer per acre for corn and other chemically-dependent crops. Each spring, surplus fertilizer and agri-chemicals are washed down the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico where they encourage the growth of a massive algae bloom. When the algae decay they are fed on by bacteria, which suck the dissolved oxygen out of the water (eutrophication). This lack of oxygen creates a "dead zone" larger than New Jersey that kills every form of life that cannot flee its reaches.

Graphic: www.conservationinstitute.org

Similar harmful algal bloom, dead zones, and diseases along our coasts are also linked to "nutrient pollution" from agricultural chemicals and factory farms. Concentrated animal feed operations for cattle, poultry, and hogs displace thousands of family farmers, crowd animals, and intensify pollution from animal wastes. At the same time factory farming offers little or no benefit in terms of the health and flavor of the meat and dairy products we consume. Much of the animal waste from these operations takes the form of nitrogen which finds its way into our coastal waters, spreading diseases and smothering productive habitats such as sea grass meadows and coral reefs. Our food choices as consumers can significantly affect these trends.

Simple things you can do include these:

1. Look for the organic label, and purchase organically grown foods whenever possible. This could significantly reduce the amount of chemical fertilizers flowing to the sea.

2. Choose a vegetarian diet or reduce the amount of the meat you consume; you'll reduce the amount of water and waste required in the production of your food.

3. Try organic barley or grass-fed beef as an alternative to corn-fed feedlot meat. Most American corn is grown with heavy applications of petrochemical fertilizers. What's more, cow's stomachs aren't adept at digesting corn, so it's use as a primary feed has led to more sick animals, which generates more waste.

4. Try to purchase fresh, locally grown foods. Doing so reduces the amount of oil used to transport foods from fields to stores and also supports local farmers.

5. Learn to savor the flavor: make fresh organic meals a center of your social and family life. Don't feel guilty about putting time into a fine meal. Treat your food as more than fast fuel.

Aloha.

SeaMugger

2008-07-15T10:37:00.001-07:00

Photo: www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/images/oil_rig.jpg

President Bush lifted the executive ban on offshore oil exploration yesterday, and has called on congress to repeal its ban which has been in place since Bush Sr. created via executive order in 1990. Read more here.
We try to steer clear of political posts at Seahuggers but with something like this, which is so obviously deleterious to our oceans and beaches, we could not hold our voice.
Folks, offshore oil drilling is not the answer (neither is drilling in ANWR). We need to look toward alternative, renewable, and sustainable energy sources NOW.
I'll leave it there.

Sea No Evil

2008-07-10T15:21:00.001-07:00

If you're in the Los Angeles area this weekend drop in on the Sea No Evil art benefit featuring some amazing artists and live music from Matt Costa. All proceeds will go toward the preservation and protection of the worlds oceans.

International Surfing Day

2008-06-19T20:28:00.000-07:00

Join us at Wadsworth Ave in Pismo Beach from 11-noon tomorrow, in celebration of International Surfing Day.
Then head down to La Perla del Mar in Shell Beach for an evening with local shapers, live music, ice cold suds, and positive vibes.

A Couple of Brewskies

2008-06-14T14:39:00.000-07:00

"Dick Brewer will certainly go down in the history of surfing as the greatest surfboard designer to ever live."
-Gerry Lopez

Just got in a couple of BioFoam sleds hand shaped by the legendary Dick Brewer.

Check'em ->

6'4" wing pintail single fin.

Bust out the 6" inseams, and hit da'county!

Kine big guy swallow tail shredda.

Dims: 7'0" x 21" x 2 3/4" w/ Futures

Video Chaser: Brewer on the essence of surfing.

Aloha.

Talking Story with Marc Andreini

2008-06-11T18:31:00.000-07:00

Marc Andreini swung by the shop this afternoon to drop off a custom Vaquero (pictured) and to pick up some BioFoam blanks for a few customs and a couple of stock boards.
Marc is a consummate craftsmen and has a wealth of knowledge regarding surfboards and surf history. We're super stoked that he spent some time at Seahuggers HQ sharing a little bit of that wealth. Our conversation ran the gamut, covering everything from Hull design and the nuance of a Lis fish, to the challenge of riding a 12' Frye Eagle; Greenough's influence on surfing and the nature of flex. I only wish I could have captured it all on video!
It is always a pleasure to be in the company of a master, especially one as humble and full of aloha and stoke as Marc Andreini.
Big mahalo to Marc for the education.

Unearth

2008-06-05T08:10:00.001-07:00

Friend and fellow Seahugger, Chris Burkard is showcasing his talents tonight at La Perla del Mar Chapel in Shell Beach. Hope to see you there!
Aloha.

Off The Deep End

2008-06-03T10:59:00.000-07:00

Weeks of double over ankle surf got you feeling desperate to pump, carve, and attack the lip?
Fear not shredda, it's always 2-6' and glassy in Osos ->

Photo: www.concretedisciples.com

And while shredding in a concrete bowl might have you feeling a little disconnected from nature, you can always separate yourself from the 'crete with a kine layer of sustainably harvested hardrock maple via Arbor's old school pool destroyer, the aptly named Oso.

Skate and Enjoy!

Gettin' the Led Out

2008-05-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

At Seahuggers, we love Led in our ears, not in our oceans.

Seahuggers is stoked to sponsor KZOZ's Get the Led Out.

Ridin' the Tide of Sustainability

2008-05-20T18:23:00.000-07:00

Come on out next Tuesday and check out some art, green technologies, and sustainable surf craft and surf gear from Seahuggers , then shake what yo' mama gave you, to Tahoe's own Blue Turtle Seduction, at the Sustainability Seduces 3.
Hope to see you there!

Don't panic...

2008-05-12T08:54:00.000-07:00

...it's organic!

Photo: www.twirlsandtwigs.com

Why buy organic cotton?

Consider the facts:

~Only 2.4% of the world's arable land is planted in cotton, yet cotton accounts for a quarter of the worlds pesticide market, making it the most pesticide intensive crop on the planet. Furthermore the often indiscriminate application (aerial spraying) of these pesticides destroys both harmful and beneficial insects. The displacement of beneficial insects reduces natural control measures and contributes to the need for more pesticide (often referred to as the pesticide treadmill).

~In addition to harming our lands these pesticides are harmful to our bodies. In California, five of the top nine pesticides used on cotton are cancer-causing chemicals (cyanazine, dicofol, naled, propargite and trifluralin). Each year, over 1 million Americans will learn they have some form of cancer and 10,000 people in the U.S. die each year from cancer related to pesticides*.

~Pesticides and synthetic fertilizers have been shown to routinely enter groundwater, surface water, and contaminate drinking water supply. All wildlife have been negatively impacted by the movement of these chemical pollutants through the ecosystem. For example, it is estimated that some 67 million birds are killed as a result of indirect or direct exposure to pesticides. Furthermore, many people around the world are drinking water contaminated with carcinogenic agri-chemicals (14 million people in the Unites States alone*).

These are but a few of the myriad problems surrounding today's "conventional" cotton industry.
But you do have a choice. Increasingly more manufacturers are supporting organic cotton farmers around the world and offering their goods in a more environmentally and socially responsible format.
We here at Seahuggers encourage you to support this effort by looking for the organic cotton label (or other "alternative" materials such as hemp and bamboo! More on these fibers in future posts) next time you are looking for new threads.

On that note, we are proud to offer quality organic cotton clothing from Life on a Board. Life on a Board is not only manufacturing high quality clothing and accessories from organic cotton, but strives to "manufacture" a better world through its use.

Featured product:
Life on a Board, Wave Art T ->

100% Organic Cotton
Link

Aloha.

*Source: http://www.organicconsumers.org/clothes/background.cfm#3

Pleasing Expression

2008-05-05T18:56:00.000-07:00

Photo: Thomas Campbell

The current Surfer's Journal (Vol. 17 No. 2) has an excellent article on Michel Junod.
An excerpt:

A master’s surfing stands out. You can spot them paddling, or the way they carry their board. “Master” is not an age category so much as a level of accomplishment, and Michel Junod is one in two disciplines: longboarding and surfboard shaping. On both the boards he makes and the waves he rides his lines are clean, pared down to the most efficient and pleasing expression.

Case in point ->

6'0" BioFoam Swallow Tail Thruster w/futures and killer green tint*.
$750.00
805.773.1855

*Please note that the variation in color is largely due to the photo lighting.

Extra, extra...

2008-05-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

Photo: Steve E. Miller

...read all about it!
Seahuggers made the news this week with a nice little feature in San Luis Obispo's independent weekly, New Times.
Click here, to check it out.
Aloha.

Bi-Catch

2008-04-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

When Nick Cooper was in town last week to help us celebrate our grand opening, he brought with him a small school of keel fin and quad fin fish. After plying him with some wine, we convinced him to leave behind this gently used BioFoam 5'8" "Rasta Twin" ->

Flex tail with tapered red cedar stringer

Stylee resin tint

Daniel Partch "Slant Back" keels!

5'8" x 20 3/4 x 2 5/8
$395.00
805.773.1855

Holding It Down Inna Seahuggers Style

2008-04-27T08:59:00.000-07:00

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then I offer the following 8,000 "words"*, in hopes they can help articulate the good time that was the Seahuggers grand opening party.

First strokes, like a bottom turn, sets it all up. Eric Soderquist, composed, with his eye down the line.

Seahuggers Sustainable Suds!

That BioFoam blank in the rack could be your next board.

75 degrees with warm offshores. Enjoying local food, wine and beer to the sounds of the Bluff Rats (Chancho, Ku Dog, & Carl), while E. Sody creates.

Nick Cooper repping to local trim maven.

5'8" Coop Deville "Rasta Twin" with a sweet red cedar tapered stringer. Projection!

From E. Sody's imagination to yours.

Mahalo to everyone who came out and helped make this event a great success. New friends and old it was great to see you all.
Make sure to keep your eye on this blog for other upcoming Seahuggers events.
Aloha.

*ok, so there are some actual words as well.

Respect

2008-04-25T11:21:00.001-07:00

The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.
-Unknown

Photo: www.adsoftheworld.com

Diggin' this Arbor Day ad!
Much respect.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't forget that tonight is the Seahuggers Grand Opening party. Local artist/surfer Eric Soderquist will be showing his art and doing some live painting, live music, surf films, local food and wines, and give-aways from Arbor, Simple, and more. Gettin' underway 'round 6 @ Hugger HQ 2665 Shell Beach Rd, Shell Beach, CA.
Hope to see you there!

Watershed Moment

2008-04-22T07:58:00.000-07:00

It is time we paid attention to that which sustains us.
-Valerie Gremillion

Water. Covering more than 70% of our planet surface, water is fundamental to sustaining life on planet earth. Indeed, with such a composition "Planet Earth" is a bit of a misnomer, and might better be called "Planet Water".

Graphic: www.enviroblog.org

As surfers, we enjoy a relationship to water few (humans) are lucky enough to experience. The ocean is our playground and our sanctuary providing a dynamic venue which tires our bodies yet restores our well being and sense of peace.

Few systems in nature take without providing something in return. In fact, perhaps the only species to take resources at a rate far in excess of the rate of return is Homo sapiens (thats you and me, kid). So today, in honor of Earth Day, I encourage you to consider what you can do to help give back to the ocean, and look toward how we can begin to restore that which restores us.

A good place to start is at the top, literally, all the way to the top of your local mountains or hills. Imagine yourself standing on this mountain or hill top (or better yet go climb up there) and looking down toward your favorite break. Likely everything in front of you is in your watershed.

Graphic: www.conservation-ontario.on.ca

Simply put, a watershed encompasses all the land surface that collects and drains water down to a single exit point, generally a river which terminates at the ocean. Watersheds can be very small and local in nature, or massive and regional, like the Mississippi watershed which drains 41% of the lower 48 states into the Gulf of Mexico. However, regardless of their size watersheds have a profound effect on the well being of the ocean.

How?

As mentioned above, watersheds collect and drain entire basins of water to the ocean. The overall condition of the basin will determine the condition of the water as it flows into the ocean. In other words, a highly disturbed and polluted watershed will yield polluted waters into our oceans.

Listed below are a few things we can all do to help foster the health, and sustainability to our local watersheds. After all " the water cycle and the life cycle are one." -Jacques Cousteau.

1. What watershed do you live in? Do you know? If not, find out. You can't help what you don't understand.

2. Buy organic. Harmful pesticides and nutrient rich fertilizers easily find their way into our rivers and lakes and eventually into our oceans. Consider as an example the Mississippi watershed cited above which drains the majority of our nations farms lands. Waters full of nutrient rich fertilizers contributes to massive algal blooms. These blooms in turn create an oxygen poor "dead zone" the size of New Jersey within the Gulf of Mexico each summer. By purchasing organically grown crops, you help reduce the influx of these harmful chemicals into our groundwater and oceans.

3. Stop run-off. Impervious surfaces like cement and asphalt prevent water from sinking into the ground and recharging ground water. Meandering streams and still wetlands serve as water traps, acting as natural filters and help recharge groundwater. We must stop channelizing streams and filling in wetlands and restore those which we have altered. Furthermore, we need to look toward employing pervious paving systems as impervious surfaces not only rob our groundwater basins but can result in higher velocity sheet flow of water which can lead to very destructive flooding, and erosion.

4. Storm drain pollution. By now most of us know that our storm drains flow directly to our creeks, rivers and oceans. No dumping, period!

5. Avoid toxic household cleaners. Many household cleaning products contain toxic chlorine and other chemicals which are difficult or impossible to remove at the local wastewater treatment facility. Baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar, and water are all excellent solvents.

6. Never flush unused prescriptions or medications down the toilet or sink. Many of these drugs find their way into or oceans and have resulted in endocrine disruption within many marine organisms.

7. Use native landscaping. During the dry season over 50% of the potable water used by the average Californian home is for outdoor use. Native plants are better suited to the local environment and require less water and pesticides to remain healthy and vigorous.

8. Reduce household water use. Every gallon of water saved by taking a shorter shower or upgrading to water efficient appliances is one less gallon of water that is extracted (using petroleum driven pumps) from our diminishing groundwater supply.

9. Use your voice. Get involved in your community and help shape policy to keep your watershed and in turn your water supply healthy and sustainable.

Aloha.

2008-04-20T08:24:00.000-07:00

Big mahalo to Maui Girl for the graphic art skills and sweet soy candles.

Things are shaping up for our upcoming grand opening with art by E Sody, BioFoam inspirations from Nick Cooper, live music, and a couple of giveaways from the boys at Arbor.
Be there!

Open Arms

2008-04-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

Well, after a few fits and starts, Seahuggers has officially opened for business.
Whew, we need a drink.
Which is why we're throwing a Seahuggers launch party!
Drop in, enjoy some libations, fondle some sweet BioFoam shred sleds, and enjoy the art of local ripper Eric Soderquist, on Friday April 25 from 6-9pm at Hugger HQ 2665 Shell Beach Road, Shell Beach, California.
Hope to see you there.
Salud!

Be Like Mike...

2008-03-31T15:20:00.000-07:00

MP in trim. Frame grab from Alby Falzon's seminal film "Morning of the Earth"

...Michael Peterson that is, with this kine 6'0" canary yellow Andreini Vaquero 2 + 1 stubbie.

Hand shaped using a sugar-based Ice 9 blank.
Saddle up, and trim into the sunset.
$650.00
805.773.1855

Aloha

2008-03-24T17:33:00.001-07:00

Photo: Chris Burkard

Welcome to the blog for Seahuggers, your online source for environmentally friendly surf and skate products.
The purpose of this blog is to bring you updates on our inventory, keep you posted on happenings and news relating to sustainable boardsports, and to simply talk story.
Make sure you drop in over at Seahuggers and register to win a BioFoam surfboard from one of our legendary shapers.
Aloha.